Arsenal’s Arsène Wenger happy to take £11m gamble on Calum Chambers

The 19-year-old Calum Chambers has made just 18 Premier League starts for Southampton. Photograph: Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

The Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger admits he is prepared to take a “gamble” by signing the teenage defender Calum Chambers from Southampton.

The 19-year-old full-back, who has only made 18 Premier League starts, is expected to be officially confirmed as an Arsenal player on Monday after agreeing personal terms and completing a medical.

The compensation heading back to Southampton is estimated to be around £11m, rising to £16m with add-ons and, while Wenger understands the size of the fee may be surprising, he is confident Chambers will justify the outlay with his versatility.

“He can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield. I hope he will give us competition for the players in these three positions,” Wenger said.

“He hasn’t played many games, no, but the English players on the market in England are very expensive and at the end of the day I was ready to take a gamble because he is a player for the future.”

Chambers would act as a deputy to the France international Mathieu Debuchy, a recent arrival from Newcastle, while Carl Jenkinson remains an alternative option at right-back for the north London club.

Southampton are experiencing a summer of change with Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert and Dejan Lovren all departing for Liverpool and teenage left-back Luke Shaw joining Manchester United. The Argentinian manager Mauricio Pochettino has swapped the Saints for Tottenham, with the Dutch coach Ronald Koeman replacing him at St Mary’s.

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